(MILWAUKEE, January 24, 2022) – Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale issued the following statement on Vice President Harris visiting the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership/ BIG STEP facility in Milwaukee:
“We are honored to welcome Vice President Harris to Milwaukee and to the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership/ BIG STEP to meet with union workers and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan to discuss the Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, a historic undertaking to improve water quality and deliver clean, safe drinking water to Wisconsin families. Nowhere in the United States should drinking from the tap be a health hazard, yet it is estimated that Wisconsin has over 170,000 lead service lines in need of replacing. Lead service lines can carry contaminated water that poisons and harms children and families. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden is tackling the issue of lead laterals head on by deploying the funds necessary to successfully replace lead service lines and to ensure the new service lines are American-made with high labor standards.
This is a great workforce development opportunity for Wisconsin where we can train and put people to work in good union jobs that benefit public health in almost every neighborhood across our state. The union men and women of the skilled trades stand ready to get to work to transform our water systems and ensure safe drinking water for all. Clean water is economic justice, racial justice, environmental justice.
The Biden-Harris Administration and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are delivering a win-win for job creation, economic growth, and doing the right thing for the health and safety of Wisconsin families by spearheading the movement to replace lead service lines and improve water quality across Wisconsin.”
